90 ford 1ton diesel

[Diamondpilot]

Sounds like someone drove it to death and traded it off. LET THE NEXT GUY DEAL WITH IT ATTITUDE.

Chris

 

[RickB]

here's an odd test drive report.

jiggled the shifter handle then all the dash gauges went out!
I was nice and told the salesman I *might* conside rthe vehicle, again, after they fixed it, and my mechanic looked at it, and we worked on the sale price...

we will see.

soundguy

You are too charitable. I'd be done looking at it right there. Not rude, but done.

 

[MikePA]

here's an odd test drive report.

pulled out of the dealership with the 03.. started a lil rough.. but then when my 6.0 sets for a few weeks when it's cold it's a lil rough too.

got out on the road, noticed tranny wasn't shifting up out of '2', jiggled the shifter handle then all the dash gauges went out! turned right around and drove back asap

I was nice and told the salesman I *might* conside rthe vehicle, again, after they fixed it, and my mechanic looked at it, and we worked on the sale price...

Hi Chris,

Was this truck at a clunker lot, listed as a mechanics special or listed 'as is'? I wouldn't trust a dealer that'd offer to sell such a truck, regardless of price, with such obvious problems.

 

[mffarmall]

I wanted to buy a diesel but my wife said no.

 

[mffarmall]

Toyota is coming out with a diesel. They call it the 2500 nodecelerate

 

[Soundguy]

It wasn't a clunker lot or one of them buy here pay here type places... that's why it surprised me. I'm likely *not* going to go back.. I have to many issues with 'trust' on that truck now.

I'm actually thinking of a few alternate options now... or at least holding off on buying till I can find some better units. I drove all over a couple cities the last few days and the only things i can find are too old, too new, or like this one.. to many issues.

I have a lead on one other vehicle I may consider, owned by a family I know.. it was used to pull a camper, and the 'grandfather' died.. is a 96 and has about 86k miles on it.. garage kept, looks 'new'.. They are still sorting out the estate so I'm not approaching them right now though i did speak with them briefly and they mentioned they wil be eventually selling the truck, and I told them if I didn't have one by the time they were ready to sell, to let me know. I have an idea of their price range, and it should be quite affordable compaired to most of the other units I looked at.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

question.

saw a super nice 1-owner 98 dodge 1 ton at lunch.. was at a place that sells camper trailers.. came in with a camper on trade.. has a cummins engine.

anyone familair with those? ( I have a 98 dodge 5.9 1/2 ton gasser .. Ilike dodge and ford.. etc.. )

opinions?

soundguy

 

[flusher]

question.

saw a super nice 1-owner 98 dodge 1 ton at lunch.. was at a place that sells camper trailers.. came in with a camper on trade.. has a cummins engine.

anyone familair with those? ( I have a 98 dodge 5.9 1/2 ton gasser .. Ilike dodge and ford.. etc.. )

opinions?

soundguy

I've been looking at Rams 2500 2WD trucks of that vintage for the past year.

In mid 1998 dodge went from the 12-valve to the 24 valve Cummins. The 12 valve I6 engine is pretty simple, easy to work on, but is susceptable to the dreaded killer dowel pin (KDP) problem. See the thread I started a few months ago on that issue.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/161203-cummins-5-9l-diesel-killer.html

It would be easy for a person with your wrenching skills to install the fix for the KDP (less than $100 for parts and a few hours of your time).

The 24-valve engines are pretty much immune to KDP except for rare cases with 1998 and 1999 engines.

Both of these versions of the I6 have iron blocks and iron heads and can be tuned to put out well over 300 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.

Knowing your experience in sizing up used hardware, I believe you when you say it's super nice. I'd try to snap up that goodie in a flash.

 

[dodge man]

I'd say get the Dodge, but I'm a little biased.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

My BIL has had one since new, a 98, 12 valve, auto, 3500 4x4, quad cab. Was very reliable but didn't see alot of use. He recently sold it and got $17,000 for it. It only had 93,000 km!

It was fairly loud inside the cab when you put your foot into it, but depending on your point of view, that may not be a bad thing. Stock, I believe it is around 190 hp (de-rated 15 hp with auto), 450 ft/lbs give or take.
Won't win a drag race with a 6.0 PS but is one tough truck.

Weaknesses are brakes, especially with auto trans, rear axle seals and panhard rods (track bars).

Chance of experiencing KDP is so remote neither he nor myself (mine is a 95 w/ 5 spd) ever concerned ourselves about it.